Overhead chain conveyer



Dec. 9, 1941.

w. c. Pom-:ROY 2,265,248 OVERHEAD CHAIN coNvEYER Filed May 29, 1940 Patented Dec. 9, 1941 Y, UNITED STATI-:S PAT i, assaut oFF1cE v vnannsn CHAIN coNvlnnmf` i WalterC. Pomeroy,v deceased, l, d mit t i i.

. I l l j Micmgby `cian-leur.mami

Detroit, Mich., signor to Trolley Conveyors Development Foundation, Inc.. Detroit,y Mich..

` i a anonproiit corporation Michigan Application may 2s, 194s, serial No.' '331,391 L (c1. iss-'1m 11 claim.

Thsinvention relates to trolleys for overhead chain conveyers and has. as its general object, the; provision of a new and novel method of asf sembling` the trolley on` the overhead rail, attaching it to the chain and to a load-carrying member without the use of` any nuts or bolts.

width .and thickness as the "extensions Il and y. il and are provided at the top with a hole Il for a retaining pin, to be described. and at. the

A further object of the invention is the provision of a trolley of the type described which, `by the bottom with holes!! for attachment to the load. Of course, if, in practice, any particular trolley is not to carry a load, the load carrying func'- tion of they straps It and il may be. eliminated and these members may bemodified and simplined. to perform onlythe function of separating the extensions Illand Il. ,i

{The remainingportions of the structure com-- prise a .center or keystonelink 23 of theconventional rivetless keystone chain, `s. rectangular tion and the attached drawing consistingA ofthe following illustrationsz" l Fig. y1 is a side view'of the trolley assembled sleeve Q24, the ginside width of which is equal to the combined thickness of the extensions, it and I and of the straps il and Il and the inside g length Voiwhich isequal ,to the hwidth of the.

extensions I4 and` Il. The lastpartis a retaining` pinli. Where slot I'i` is shaped like a keyto a center link ofthe conventional rivetless zu hole, the retaining pin willas shown inthe keystone chain and shows the general arrangement of the parts in operating condition;

iFig. 2 is an end view oilthe trolley,v partly in section, and taken along the lines 2`2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isa sectional view ofthe trolley takenv along the lines 3 4 of Fig. l locking arrangement of parts;

Fig. 4' is a fragmentaryvertical sectional viewshowlng the parts in partially assembled conditionand also showing the retaining pin.

showing `the inter- Referringto the drawing, Figs".y 1 and` 2 show i a yoke-shaped trolley bracket consisting of like shaped opposite side members or brackets il and il, each provided at the top with a kconventional trolley wheel ifwhich engages the lower ilange of an overhead I-beam` I3 on either side 'of the web ofthe lfbeam. As shown in the drawing. particularly Figs. 2 and 4, the lower partof each bracket I8 and Il consists of a downwai'dex-` tension in the form ofplates il and 'I5 eachprovided with bosses II at their lower ends.` The top central portion of eachextension is pierced by a vertical vslot I1 whichgin the yembodiment shown in the drawing, is shaped like a keyhole.

The secondimportantpart of the deviceis the separator member which may also perform the functions of a load icarrying hanger. furcated form of loa'd hanger is illustrated in Il andi! placed face to face jat thetop `and bent somewhat away. from one another .at the hole slotsll. i.

`transverse Abibottom.A These straps It and it, which can be 4together considered as one separator and one drawing, have ends of` reduced diameter-as at 26; seas to fit in the `lowernortions of the key- The parts are assembled together 'on an I- beam,`,suc`h `as I3,`by` placing the `side* members Il andi I one on either side of the I-beam"with the wheels i2 bearing on ythe llowelnian'gc of the I-beam., The extensions 'il and Il at the bottom of eachbracketv'll and il are brought together so that' theirinner surfaces touch. When the foregoingV parts arein this 'position'. the 'sleeve 24 can be slipped' upover the bosses Il `at the` eindsof the extensions il andll' and the center link 23 of the keystone `chain can likewisebe slipped up over the bosses it. "Thereafter the extensions i, i4 and Il at the bottom of the brackets Il and Il are separated from one another to the extent `permitted by the .internal dimensions ofthe sleeve 2l and the center link Il. When so separated,` there is a Vspace between the extensions H- and il Just suflicient to permit the upward insertion of the` two hanger `straps Il and it. 'Ihese-strapsareinserted in this space from the bottom until the holes 2i thereof are in registration with the top portion of the holen in the extensions Hand il. The parts are nowin the position shown in F13. 4. Tolockthe parts in position, the retaining the drawing and it consists of two metal straps' 60 pin n is' inserted in the keyhole n mdm the the retaining pinll seatin the bottom vof" the hangermember, are of lapproximately the'gsame 55 eyholes i1.; The partsarenow in the position shownr 1n Figs. 1, 2 end a and the strueture is completely assembled in operating condition.

s It will be noted that the two brackets i and II are held together on either side of theehanger (Il, I!)by the encircling rectangular'sleeve v24 and the center link 23. At the same time. the

aguas-is two oppositely disposed trolley brackets having wheels at the top and vertical extensions at the bottom. said extensions being insertable downwardly through a link of aconveyer chain, a removable separator member insertable upwardly between said extensions, saidlmember in such center link 23 and the sleeve 2 4 areheld ln place by the bosses i4 at the bottom ofy the brackets and by web portions 2`|1 of the brackets lI0 and I I which terminate immediatelyat the top ofthe sleeve 24'. In this mannerthe web Niand; the' bosses l0 each form shoulders within .which the i sleeve 24v and the center link 23 kare securely, `retained against displacement. It mayl also be" noted that the hanger (I8, I9) which presses the brackets ill and Il in locked arrangement with the center link 23 and the sleeve 24 is limsleeve 24 and in registration with the top'oi' the keyhole".

4To disassemble Ithe structure, it is 'necessary position operating to force said extensions into engagement with the sides of said link, and a self-locking retaining pin insertable through keyhole slots in said extensions and a hole in said fseparator member, said pin having an enlarged centerportion insertable only through the top portion of said keyhole and having ends of re- `duceddiameter adapted to engage the lower narrow end portion of said keyhole slots on downward movement of said separator member and said-pin.

3. In a trolley of the type described, the combination of a sleeve surrounding the lower portions ci two trolley brackets, aseparator member insertable between said'lower portions, and a pin insertable through holes inv saidflower portionsand said separator member, said" sleeve remerelyto raise the hanger -straps Il and Allas above mentioned to the,= position shown in Flg 4, to knock the retaining pin out of place, and then toremove'the hanger straps Il and I8' by'pulling themjdown -and out ,of the assembly.' Once'the" pin 2U is soiremovedltheother can readily be'dlsassembled; 1 n v It will be noted that the aembly and disassembl'y ofthetrolley can be carried on readilyr andquickly without the use of any tools orequip-` yment of; any kind whatsoever. Iifthe parts are accurately made, the sleeve. 24 may be omitted and the chain link 2 3 may be relied upon to keep the brackets Il and Il from spriliding.` In such jcase, the keyhole shape of ythe slot 11,' cooperating with the reduoedend sec'tionsoithe retaining pln25`,"will prevent the r"pin vfrom being dislodged vena thus maintain the partsinlocked arrangement. yWhere the sleeve '2'4'lis`j1`sed, a'sirnple formof slot I1 vwithout en'- f larged top ,portion and a simple'l form of pin '25 without enlarged central portion may be adopted, 'as 'in such .case the sleeve itself will operate to lower nartof the slot IJ.

Among other things,v the encirclementoi' the extensions and I5 .andai the hanger straps I8 and il, provides a particu- `prevent the pin from 'dislodging' while in the larly effective means for holding the two brackets Ill and Iii-in fixed relation to one anotherl tionand-arrangement oiA the parts without del parting fromthescope of the-invention outlined m-"the appended claims.

Whatisclaimed'is: f-

f1.' vA Itrolley for overhead conveyers including two oppositelydisposed trolley brackets, a vseparator-member, therebetween, the L lower yends of saidftrolleybrackets andthe upper end of said separator member each vhaving holes thereinregisterable withy one another, a. link opa conveyer chain engaging the lower ends ofsaid brackets andencasing said brackets and said member, and

sleeve 24, byf'its 'snug the foregoing parts are assembled. l 4. Ina trolley of the type described, the'combination of twotrolley brackets having downining said pin against endwise movement when ward extensions, a separator member-insertable" between said extensions,y a retaining pin insert#- able through holes'in said extension and said separator member, means f or retaining said extensionsy and said separator" member against transverse displacement including a chain' link tensions, and 'means for retaining said pin against axial displacement including a sleeve -surrounding'said extensions and covering the ends of'saidpin. v A .Y

5. In a trolley of thetype described, the combination 'of twoftrolley brackets" having Vvertical' extensions. a separator'ffnenber' insertable between said extensions, aretaining pin engaging holes' in said extensions and' separator member,

' and a sleeve surroundingsaid extensions and covering andpreventlng axial displacement' oi' saidpin.

s. In e. treney ef' unetype described. the eemv bination of the two trolley brackets having'verj n niepperentthet e person'skmed in the" imay make various'chang'es in detail,l constructical extensions, a separator member insertable between said extensions, fa retaining pin engaging keyholesin said extensions and holes in said separator member, means'for maintaining the forel going parts against transverse displacement, and means for preventing axialdisplacementot said pin including shoulders on the central portion of said pin cooperating with the end portions of said ireyholes.,y v l '7. In a trolleyof the type described, lthe ,come bination 'of the two trolley brackets having vertical extensions, a'separator member insertable between said extensions, a retaining pin engaging holes in said Vextensions and engagingholes in said separator member,. some of which holes are non-circular, means for maintaining `the foregoing parts against transverse displacement, and means-for preventing axial displacement of said piny including shoulders on the central portion 'l0 link cfa conveyer chain@ sleevertwo oppositely a selt-1ocking -removable retaining pin engaging trolley brackets havingfwheels at the said holes in said brackets and said member and ,limiting relative movement therebetween.

ofsaid 'pin' cooperating with thennn-circular portions of said holes.

s. an' overhead trolley assembly eeinb'ising s top and vertical .extensions at the bottom."said extensions being insertable downwardly through said link and sleeve and having slots which upon said insertion through said link and sleeve are partly but not wholly covered thereby, a removable separator member insertable upwardly between said extensions and when so inserted operating to force said extensions into engagement with the sides of said link and said sleeve, said separator member having a hole in the top portion thereof which may be brought in registration with the uncovered portion of said slots, and a retaining pin insertable through said hole and the uncovered portion of said keyholes, the ends of said retaining pin lodging in the covered portion of said slots upon downward movement of said pin and said separator member. l

9. A trolley for overhead conveyers including two oppositely disposed brackets, the lower end of each of said brackets having a vertical slot, a hanger member positioned between the lower ends of said brackets and having a hole registerable with said slots, a link of a conveyer chain engaging the lower ends of said brackets and encasing said brackets and said hanger member,

and a self-locking removable retaining pin, insertable in said slots and said hole, the shape and position of said slots and said hole and the shape of said pin being such that limited movement of said hanger member in the direction of normal load cn said trolley operates to lock said pin into engagement with said brackets and said member.

10. A trolley for overhead rail conveyers comprising two oppositely disposed trolley brackets each bearing trolley wheels at the top and provided with vertical extensions at the bottom, each of said extensions having a vertical slot in the central portion thereof and outwardly projecting bosses at the lower end thereof, a separator member having a hole in the top portion thereof, a rectangular sleeve of inside width equal to the combined thickness of said extensionsY and said hanger member, and a retaining pin adapted to :lit in said hole and said slots, the other dimensions of the foregoing parts being such as to permit assembly thereof on an overhead rail and through a conveyer chain by inserting said extensions through said sleeve and a link of said conveyer chain to a point where said bosses are below said link and said slots are partially covered by said sleeve, by thereafter upwardly inserting said hanger between said extensions until said hole is in registration with the uncovered portion of said slots, by then inserting said pin in said hole in the uncovered portion of said slots and by finally lowering said hanger and said pin until said pin sets in the bottom and covered portion of said slots.

11. A trolley for overhead conveyers including two oppositely disposed trolley brackets, each with an extension at its lower end; each extension being shaped so as to engage the inner sides of a link of a conveyer chain and being provided with a keyhole-shaped slot, a hanger member insertable between said extensions and being provided with a hole registerable with said slots, a link of a conveyer chain engaging said extensions and surrounding said extensions and said hanger member, and a retaining pin of increased central section insertable in said hole and said keyholeshaped slots, the shape and position of said slots and of said hole and the shape of said retaining pin being such that movement of said hanger member in the direction of normal load on said trolley operates to lock the narrowed end portions of said retaining pin in the bottoms of said keyhole-shaped slots.

CHARLES H. BLAKESLEE. Administrator de bom's non of the Estate of Waiter C. Pomeroy, Deceased. 

